South Africa Still the Team to Beat

Springboks favourites to retain Rugby Championship title, but battle-readiness an issue

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CAPE TOWN - With two years to go until the Rugby World Cup in Australia, the 2025 Rugby Championship offers an early glimpse into the plans of the Southern Hemisphere heavyweights as they start shaping their squads for the 2027 tournament.

South Africa and Australia open the championship at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Aug 16, while Argentina and New Zealand clash in Cordoba later in the day.

South Africa are the current world champions and Rugby Championship holders, and look the team to beat again, despite a tough two-Test visit to New Zealand, including at their nemesis' Eden Park in Auckland, where they have not won since 1937.

The All Blacks swept their three-match July Series against an under-strength France and will have eyes on regaining a title they have won a record 20 times, boosted by facing their bitter old rivals at home.

Australia finished their British & Irish Lions Series on a high with a victory in the rain in Sydney as coach Joe Schmidt continues their rebuild until he hands over the reins to Les Kiss in mid-2026.